A salvage crew has been trying unsuccessfully to right the boat this afternoon. Once it is upright, they will still have to wait for the seas to calm before calling for a tug from Brisbane to help move it off the beach.

It is understood the Miss Melissa’s cargo of prawns will not be able to be salvaged, with the trawler inundated with sand and water.

Meanwhile, a shore search is continuing for 32-year-old deckhand and father-of-three Mark “Macca” Wray, who has not been seen since before the boat ran aground just north of Mooloolaba Surf Life Saving Club about 7pm on Wednesday.

A sea search, in what police described as atrocious conditions, was suspended about noon yesterday when sea sickness began to fell even experienced boat crew members.

The air search was suspended shortly afterwards.

Sunshine Coast water police sergeant Kyle Bates told thedaily.com.au this morning that the air and sea search for Mr Wray had been scaled down, and efforts today would focus on the foreshore between Mooloolaba and Noosa North Shore. Police, lifeguards and a helicopter will be involved in the shore search.

Sergeant Bates said the decision to cut back the search had been made after consultation with medical experts about Mr Wray's chances of survival after such a long time in wild seas, with the likelihood of finding him alive described as "diminished".

Trawler runs aground

However, friends and family, who described the missing man as a good deckhand and an adoring father, remained hopeful yesterday of a miracle.

Ironically, it is just six months since Mr Wray was asked to unveil a statue at Mooloolaba dedicated to missing Sunshine Coast fishermen.

Coast fishing identity Doc Dooley said his mate Macca, as Mr Wray is known among other trawler workers, was fit, strong and a good swimmer and would pull through if anyone could.

“I reckon he’ll crawl up on a beach somewhere,” he said.

However, police, who were initially informed that Mr Wray was not a good swimmer, were not as confident.

Commercial fishing boats joined coast guard crews from Noosa, Mooloolaba and Caloundra, the water police and four helicopters in braving a 5.5-metre swell and 40-knot winds yesterday to search a combined area stretching more than 120 nautical miles.

Visibility was poor and the search was made even more difficult by the fact that police could not pinpoint where or when Mr Wray had disappeared from the boat.

Sgt Bates said the experienced seaman had been at the helm of the boat while the skipper and another crew member slept as they made their way in on auto-pilot after 16 days at sea.

Sgt Bates said Mr Wray had been on the phone for a series of calls during the 90 minutes prior to his disappearance.

His last call was believed to have been to his partner, but the skipper’s wife got no answer when she tried to call seven minutes later, Sgt Bates said.

The boat ran aground 40 minutes later, but there was no sign of Mr Wray as the skipper and crew members scrambled to safety.

Rumours spread soon afterwards that a wet and distraught man had been picked up at Mooloolaba by taxi.

However, Sgt Bates said police had found no proof that Mr Wray had made it ashore.

He said they had no way of knowing if Mr Wray disappeared during the seven minutes between phone calls, if reception was bad when the skipper’s wife tried to call, nor whether he disappeared during the subsequent 40 minutes.

He speculated that Mr Wray may have stepped outside on to the deck of the boat to check equipment, or in attempt to get better phone reception, and had fallen overboard.

“A phone call to a friend reported that he was happy. There was nothing to indicate that there was any sort of problem on the boat,” Sgt Bates said.

Police were in contact yesterday with two doctors to assess Mr Wray’s chances of survival in the water.

Sgt Bates said he was last seen by his crew mates wearing a T-shirt and shorts.

It was not known if he might have any sort of floatation device.

Initial reports suggested that an attempt would be made to refloat the Miss Melissa on yesterday’s high tide, but she remained stuck fast and full of water in the afternoon.

There was no sign of any salvage bids. Attempts by the Daily to contact her owner, Alan Trickey, were unsuccessful.

Mr Wray’s family attended the Mooloolaba Coast Guard centre yesterday to speak to police but declined to comment to media.

Sgt Bates said they were taking news of his disappearance hard, but were trying to remain positive.

Mr Wray is the father of two sons, 9 and 10, and he has a two-year-old daughter from a subsequent relationship.

Noosa Coast Guard rescue skipper Peter Brady described conditions during yesterday’s search as trying, but much easier than on Tuesday night.

“If there’d been something out there ... we would have seen it,” Mr Brady said.

 

The 32-year-old has not been seen since before the trawler ran aground at Mooloolaba Beach on Tuesday last week, with an ocean and shore search failing to find any sign of father of three.

Today’s memorial was held in the shadow of the monument Mr Wray helped unveil six months ago, in honour of Sunshine Coast fishermen lost at sea.

His friends spoke of a family man who lived for his kids and the ocean, and was always there when his mates needed him.

They said those who loved the fisherman would always think of him when they looked at the Mooloolaba monument.

The music of Mr Wray’s favourite band, Guns ’n’ Roses, was played throughout the service, which was followed by a barbecue for his friends and family.